You might have seen your turtle supplier keeping frogs and turtles in the same tank and made you think, could I can keep them too? Is it possible to keep turtles and frogs together?
It would be a sight to behold if that was all possible. And what about the pet shop guy?
It is a rare scene like some of the pet owners keeping mouse and cat together. However, it is not a usual case, and nor should you pursue such goals.
So, Can Turtles and Frogs Live Together?
Aquatic turtles are faster than frogs when they are in their element, i.e., water. So they will attack your frog and eat them if kept together. However, in the outdoors, frogs and turtles have high chances to coexist.
If there happens to be an encounter between them, the frog will have lesser chances to survive, and you will be the one paying the price (literally). Even if the frog fights back, a turtle’s hardy defense will shield frogs’ attacks. And the immense bite force of a turtle will rip off a frog’s delicate skin.
It also depends on the size of these pets. For example, if your frog is bigger than the turtle, then the turtle will hesitate to attack the frog.
However, frogs, too, are predators and will try to attack your turtle.
Despite being shorter in length, turtles’ shells are bulkier making it hard for frogs to fit them inside their mouth.
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What Happens When You Keep Turtles And Frogs Together?
First, if the turtle is bigger or similar in size to the frog, your turtle will start attacking the frog. So to be safe from the turtle, your frog will hide and won’t come anywhere near your turtle.
Turtle and frog both will be under stress as they are both predators and will compete for the same food.
But if your turtles are just hatchlings, then it is possible to keep them together. They won’t be well-equipped and robust enough to prey on frogs.
Nevertheless, unlike frogs, turtles are suited to handle stressful situations.
And What If The Frog Is Bigger Than The Turtle?
Not many frogs get bigger than turtles, but some frogs like horned frogs and bullfrogs can grow up to 6 inches and 8 inches in length, respectively.
And in the event of an encounter between a small turtle and a big frog -bullfrog, your frog will overpower the turtle, and your turtle will be dinner for the frog.
Can Turtles and Frogs Live Together in A Pond?
Yes, you can keep both frogs and turtles in the same pond if you have enough plants and vegetation to provide hiding space for your frogs.
However, there are things to consider before keeping these two pets in an outside pond.
Vegetation is Important
Plant as many aquatic plants in the pond as possible. Vegetation will provide more hiding places for your frogs.
Keep abundant floating plants in the pond. These plants will be used as a launching pad by your frogs to escape while being chased by your turtles.
Mark Separate Territory
You shouldn’t by any means keep these two close. Keep turtles at one end and frogs at the other.
This way you can avoid unwanted confrontations.
Turtles need an area for basking, so make an elevated area where they can receive their UVB rays.
Clean and Change The Water Frequently
Changing water is essential for both frogs and turtles. Unfortunately, both these pets are known for creating a mess in their habitat.
However, you shouldn’t change the water too often. These animals are sensitive enough to know even the slightest changes in their environment.
So a significant water change can stress them out.
Furthermore, you should be looking forward to building an ecosystem in your outside pond. This way, your pets can naturally thrive.
The good thing about outdoor ponds is that they attract other invertebrates to live there too. These insects are excellent protein sources for both turtles and frogs. And to change water frequently means that you are depleting their food resources.
However, check out for mosquito larvae during summer. If your pond is too near your house, then letting these mosquitoes breed is not an ideal thing to do.
What Happens if Your Turtle Eats Frog?
Unless it happens to be a wild dart frog, your turtle won’t have any problem digesting a frog.
Poisonous frogs, like dart frogs, are known for their toxic body. They can release toxins from their skin which can kill turtles too.
If your turtle consumes a dart frog, then the outcome will undoubtedly be devastating for the turtle.
Can Turtles And Frogs Live Together In A Tank?
Although both these animals can survive on both land and water, they won’t be able to share the same living conditions inside a tank.
Your frogs will be entrapped in a closed area, just waiting to be preyed upon by turtles. So it is not a good idea to keep turtles and frogs together in a tank.
You might think that frogs are much quicker than turtles. But the reality is much different. The turtles are faster than frogs in the water.
And when enclosed in a small area such as tanks, the frog will have nowhere to escape.
Eventually, a frog will be a meal for the turtle.
Do Frogs Eat Turtle?
Usually, frogs are smaller than turtles; however, some frogs can grow larger than some turtle species and eat smaller turtles.
Do Bullfrogs Eat Turtles?
Bullfrogs are one of the largest species of frogs, and they will devour turtles that are smaller than them. They can grow up to 8 inches in length and weigh around five pounds. Their range of diet in the wild includes more than just turtles.
They are excellent predators and like to ambush other animals. They will swallow worms, insects, fishes, crayfish, turtles, small mammals, and birds.
Even more, they are cannibalistic and will devour frogs too.
So it might not be a good idea to keep bullfrogs with turtles, especially smaller ones.
If you want them to coexist, make sure you have an outdoor pond where both of these species will have enough area for themselves to not meddle in each other’s business.
Which Frog Species Can Live Together With Turtles?
It is recommended to keep non-poisonous frogs together with turtles. Burmese Chubby, African Dwarf, American, Bumble Bee, Gray Tree, American Green Tree, Oriental Fire Bellied, Pacman, Amazon Milk are some of the non-poisonous frogs you can keep together with turtles.
Along with these non-poisonous frogs, you can keep the infamous dart frogs too. Let me tell you why.
Dart frogs in the wild consume chemical-infilled diets, which builds toxins inside their body. However, the captive dart frogs’ diet does not include such content, making them toxin-proof.
So yes, your turtles will be safe if they consume dart frogs bred in captivity.
Bumblebee Dart, Green, and Black Dart are popular dart frogs you can keep with your turtles.
However, I recommend doing your share of research before getting dart frogs.
Can I Keep Horned Frogs (Pacman Frog) With Turtles?
Juvenile horned frogs can be kept with turtles. However, adult horned frogs can grow up to 8 inches which makes them a threat to turtles. In addition, an adult horned frog will not hesitate to kill and eat your turtles.
Horned frog or popularly known by the name Pacman, is a popular frog among frog hobbyists.
They are easy to take care of and can thrive in the same environment where turtles live.
Make sure you have a large vivarium so that you have lesser encounters between these two species.
Can I Keep Dart Frogs With Turtles?
I wouldn’t recommend keeping them together as most dart frogs can reach up to only 2 inches, making them much smaller than turtles. Your turtles will think of them as food and devour during the confrontation.
However, you can keep them together outdoors.
As I mentioned earlier, dart frogs aren’t toxic when kept in captivity as they need to eat certain types of plants to build toxins in their body.
But when you keep them outdoors, there could still be a chance of them developing these toxins.
Nevertheless, keeping them outdoors can protect the frogs from turtles. This is because they have more chances to escape and hide on the land.
Can African Dwarf Frogs Live With Turtles?
African dwarfs can coexist with turtles as they like to spend most of their lives underwater, just like the turtles. In addition, they are social pets and like to live in groups which increases their survival rate even when kept in a turtle tank.
But you need to know that these dwarf frogs do not grow more than 2.5 inches, so if you have a bigger turtle, then these little guys are sure to be on alert.
The fact that they live in groups doesn’t mean that they have the power to retaliate against turtles. Nevertheless, no single frog will be targeted by your turtle, thus creating a diversion and lessening your frogs’ stress level.
Can Red-Eyed Tree Frog Live With Turtles?
It won’t be appropriate to keep red-eyed tree frogs with turtles as they have different habitats. After the metamorphosis, these frogs like to spend most of their time on trees, whereas turtles need water to swim and feed.
Most turtles need water to swallow food and also to keep them constantly hydrated. So they wouldn’t do well in terrariums like the tree frogs.
Can Gray Tree Frogs Live With Turtles?
Gray tree frogs are arboreal frogs, which means they like to spend most of their time climbing. So keeping them in an aquarium with turtles wouldn’t be ideal.
However, you can keep them together in an outdoor pond. Have plenty of vegetation, so the frogs will have their plants to climb while the turtle dwells in the water.
Do Turtles Eat Frogs?
Yes, turtles are omnivores and will indeed eat frogs if they are smaller than them. In water, they are faster and will instantly attack frogs within their vicinity. And not to mention, frogs do come under a turtle’s diet regime.
Which Turtles Can Live Together With Frogs?
It all depends upon the habitat they share. Terrestrial turtles can live together with frogs when kept indoors. However, nobody can vouch that the aquatic turtles will do the same. These turtles can go into a killing frenzy once they enter the water.
Do Red-Eared Slider Turtle Eat Frogs?
Yes, red-eared slider turtles will eat frogs if they can catch them in the water. Juvenile slider turtles are carnivores, so they think of frogs as a protein source and attack them.
The red-eared slider can reach up to 12 inches within eight years. After that, they will outgrow your frogs.
So even if your turtle is not harming your frog, it will be just a matter of time when they grow and start preying on your frog.
Do Box Turtles Eat Frogs?
Box turtles are terrestrial turtles, and they are slower than frogs on land. However, if they find a frog sitting still within its reach, then indeed, your frogs will become a snack for them.
Box turtles aren’t good swimmers, so if the frog being chased is an aquatic frog – like an African dwarf frog, then there is no way that the turtles will be able to catch the frog.
Do Snapping Turtles Eat Frogs?
Snapping turtles are carnivores and will certainly devour frogs if they can catch one. These turtles can jump high enough to catch frogs that rest higher than the surface level.
And once it catches a frog’s body parts, there is very little chance of escape for the frog. Snapping turtles are called snapping turtles for some reason. So it wouldn’t be wise to meddle around when one’s nearby.
Do Painted Turtles Eat Frogs?
Yes, painted turtles do eat frogs. However, they are omnivores and highly territorial, so they are likely to hunt them down whenever a frog enters the water.
Painted turtles can grow up to 7 inches in length – that’s fairly large going by a turtle’s standards. In addition, their flat shell helps them swim faster than frogs, so catching a frog in water is easier for them.
Do Musk Turtles Eat Frogs?
If your musk turtles are larger than frogs, they will think of frogs as protein sources. However, bigger frogs over 4 inches will be safe in the presence of musk turtles as musk turtles do not get bigger than 4 inches.
If you want to raise them together, make sure that your frogs should be bigger than these turtles.
Musk turtles are aquatic turtles and will spend most of their time in the water.
So you need to get an aquarium with lots of plants and vegetation for your frog to stay. But, of course, frogs like vivariums more than an aquarium, so plan accordingly.
Do Tortoises Eat Frogs?
Yes, tortoises will eat frogs in the wild. However, tortoises aren’t much of a hunters. Also, their carapaces aren’t light like those of the aquatic turtles, so they will have difficulty preying on frogs.
But they will undoubtedly prey upon frogs that are sitting still.
Final Words On Can Turtles And Frogs Live Together
Though it might seem a fun idea to keep these two together, it often turns out disaster for one party.
Turtles being omnivores, will immediately pounce upon the frogs and eat them. So there is no guarantee that your turtles won’t eat frogs when kept together.
Another thing you need to take away from this article is that both these animals require a different kind of habitat. For example, turtles need aquariums, whereas frogs need vivarium.
However, if you put both of them outdoor with a pond, then they might coexist and never have to cross each other’s path.
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